The Book of Oaths, Vows and Expiations
The Binding Consequence of Oath and Vows
9- عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ مَعْمَرِ بْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ عَلَيَّ نَذْرٌ وَلَمْ يُسَمِّ شَيْئاً قَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ.
9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Tha‘labah ibn Maymun from Mu’ammar ibn ‘Umar who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says there is a vow on him but does not specify anything. He (the Imam) said, ‘He does not owe anything.’”
10- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) فِي رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ للهِ عَلَيْهِ نَذْراً وَلَمْ يُسَمِّهِ قَالَ إِنْ سَمَّى فَهُوَ الَّذِي سَمَّى وَإِنْ لَمْ يُسَمِّ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ.
10. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who makes a vow on himself from Allah but does not specify, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If he specifies it then it is on him, if he has not specified then he does not owe anything.’”
11- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ للهِ عَلَيَّ الْمَشْيُ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ إِنِ اشْتَرَيْتُ لأهْلِي شَيْئاً بِنَسِيئَةٍ فَقَالَ أَيَشُقُّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَشُقُّ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ لا يَأْخُذَ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً بِنَسِيئَةٍ قَالَ فَلْيَأْخُذْ لَهُمْ بِنَسِيئَةٍ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ.
11. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Safwan ibn Yahya from Ishaq ibn ‘Ammar who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who says, ‘It is on me to walk to al-Ka’bah if I can buy certain things for my family on credit. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is that difficult on them?’ I replied, ‘Yes, it is difficult for them not to take for them anything on credit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He must take for them on credit and he does not owe anything.’”
12- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَمَّادٍ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي رَجُلٍ حَلَفَ بِيَمِينٍ أَنْ لا يَتَكَلَّمَ ذَا قَرَابَةٍ لَهُ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ فَلْيُكَلِّمِ الَّذِي حَلَفَ عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ كُلُّ يَمِينٍ لا يُرَادُ بِهَا وَجْهُ اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ فِي طَلاقٍ أَوْ عِتْقٍ قَالَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ جَعَلَتْ مَالَهَا هَدْياً لِبَيْتِ اللهِ إِنْ أَعَارَتْ مَتَاعَهَا لِفُلانَةَ وَفُلانَةَ فَأَعَارَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِهَا بِغَيْرِ أَمْرِهَا قَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهَا هَدْيٌ إِنَّمَا الْهَدْيُ مَا جُعِلَ للهِ هَدْياً لِلْكَعْبَةِ فَذَلِكَ الَّذِي يُوفَى بِهِ إِذَا جُعِلَ للهِ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ أَشْبَاهِ هَذَا فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ وَلا هَدْيَ لا يُذْكَرُ فِيهِ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَسُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ عَلَيَّ أَلْفُ بَدَنَةٍ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ بِأَلْفِ حَجَّةٍ قَالَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَعَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ وَهُوَ مُحْرِمٌ بِحَجَّةٍ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ أَوْ يَقُولُ أَنَا أُهْدِي هَذَا الطَّعَامَ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ إِنَّ الطَّعَامَ لا يُهْدَى أَوْ يَقُولُ الْجَزُورُ بَعْدَ مَا نُحِرَتْ هُوَ يُهْدِي بِهَا لِبَيْتِ اللهِ قَالَ إِنَّمَا تُهْدَى الْبُدْنُ وَهُنَّ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَيْسَ تُهْدَى حِينَ صَارَتْ لَحْماً.
12. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ibn Abi ‘Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “About the case of a man who takes an oath not to speak to a certain relative, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It does not have any valid effect. He must speak to one about whom he has taken an oath not to speak.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Any oath which is not for the sake of Allah does not have any valid effect, whether it is in divorce or freeing a slave.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then asked him (the Imam) about a woman who has made her assets for the house of Allah if certain woman borrows her certain items and also so and so woman, then certain ones allow her to borrow and others do not allow.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There is an offering animal on her. Offering is what Allah has made a gift for al-Ka’bah and for this reason it is offered if it is made for Allah. Such things are of no valid effect as well as such offering animal on which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, is not mentioned.’ He (the Imam) was asked about a man who says that there are one thousand camels on me when he is in the state of Ihram, or a thousand al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘Such things are of the temptation of Satan.’ About the case of a man who in the state of Ihram takes an oath for al-Hajj or that he says to offer this food. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect; food cannot be offered. He may say that the camel slaughtered after it is slaughtered, he wants to offer it to the house of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Camels are offered when they are living, not when it turns to flesh.’”
13- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كُلُّ يَمِينٍ لا يُرَادُ بِهَا وَجْهُ اللهِ تَعَالَى فِي طَلاقٍ أَوْ عِتْقٍ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْءٍ.
13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Safwan from ibn Muskan from al-Halabiy who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Any oath which is not for the sake of Allah, most High, in divorce or freeing slaves does not have any valid effect.’”
14- أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَحْلِفُ بِالأيْمَانِ الْمُغَلَّظَةِ أَنْ لا يَشْتَرِيَ لأهْلِهِ شَيْئاً قَالَ فَلْيَشْتَرِ لَهُمْ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ فِي يَمِينِهِ.
14. Ahmad ibn Muhammad has narrated from ibn Faddal from ibn Bukayr from Zurarah who has narrated the following: “I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who takes an oath very seriously not to buy for his family. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must buy for them and he does not owe anything because of his oath.’”
15- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ سَيْفِ بْنِ عَمِيرَةَ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ قَالَ وَاللهِ لَقَدْ قَالَ لِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ (عَلَيْهِما السَّلام) إِنَّ اللهَ عَلَّمَ نَبِيَّهُ التَّنْزِيلَ وَالتَّأْوِيلَ فَعَلَّمَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِه) عَلِيّاً (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ وَعَلَّمَنَا وَاللهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ أَوْ حَلَفْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ يَمِينٍ فِي تَقِيَّةٍ فَأَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ فِي سَعَةٍ.
15. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from Sayf ibn Amirah am abu al-Sabbah who has narrated the following: “By Allah, Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, said to me that Allah taught Tamil and Taw’il (what was revealed and what it meant) to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who taught it to Ali (a.s.).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He by Allah taught to us. Thus, if you do certain things or take an oath and swear because of taqiyah (fear), then you are not under constraint.’”
16- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ سَعْدَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) لا يَمِينَ فِي غَضَبٍ وَلا فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ وَلا فِي جَبْرٍ وَلا فِي إِكْرَاهٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللهُ فَمَا فَرْقٌ بَيْنَ الإكْرَاهِ وَالْجَبْرِ قَالَ الْجَبْرُ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ وَيَكُونُ الإكْرَاهُ مِنَ الزَّوْجَةِ وَالأمِّ وَالأبِ وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ.
16. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Musa ibn Sa‘dan from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Sinan who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Taking an oath in anger does not have any valid effect or to cut off relations with relatives, by Jabr (force) or Ikrah (coercion, dislike).’ I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, what is the difference between forced and coerced?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Force is by Sultan, coercion or dislike is from the wife, mother or father and that does not have any valid effect.’”
17- عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ سَعْدَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الْقَاسِمِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِ (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ لا يَمِينَ فِي غَضَبٍ وَلا فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ وَلا فِي إِجْبَارٍ وَلا فِي إِكْرَاهٍ قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللهُ فَمَا الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ الإكْرَاهِ وَالإجْبَارِ قَالَ الإجْبَارُ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ وَيَكُونُ الإكْرَاهُ مِنَ الزَّوْجَةِ وَالأمِّ وَالأبِ وَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْءٍ.
17. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn Ali from Musa ibn Sa‘dan from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Qasim ibn Muhammad from ‘Abd Allah ibn Sinan who has narrated the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘An oath in anger or to cut off relations with relatives, by Jabr (force) or Ikrah (coercion, dislike) does not have any valid effect.’ I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, what is the difference between forced and coerced?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Force is by Sultan coercion or dislike is from the wife, mother or father and that does not have any valid effect.’”
18- مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ أَبِي خَلَفٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام) إِنِّي كُنْتُ اشْتَرَيْتُ جَارِيَةً سِرّاً مِنِ امْرَأَتِي وَإِنَّهُ بَلَغَهَا ذَلِكَ فَخَرَجَتْ مِنْ مَنْزِلِي وَأَبَتْ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِي فَأَتَيْتُهَا فِي مَنْزِلِ أَهْلِهَا فَقُلْتُ لَهَا إِنَّ الَّذِي بَلَغَكِ بَاطِلٌ وَإِنَّ الَّذِي أَتَاكِ بِهَذَا عَدُوٌّ لَكِ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْتَفِزَّكِ فَقَالَتْ لا وَاللهِ لا يَكُونُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكَ خَيْرٌ أَبَداً حَتَّى تَحْلِفَ لِي بِعِتْقِ كُلِّ جَارِيَةٍ لَكَ وَبِصَدَقَةِ مَالِكَ إِنْ كُنْتَ اشْتَرَيْتَ جَارِيَةً وَهِيَ فِي مِلْكِكَ الْيَوْمَ فَحَلَفْتُ لَهَا بِذَلِكَ وَأَعَادَتِ الْيَمِينَ وَقَالَتْ لِي فَقُلْ كُلُّ جَارِيَةٍ لِيَ السَّاعَةَ فَهِيَ حُرَّةٌ فَقُلْتُ لَهَا كُلُّ جَارِيَةٍ لِيَ السَّاعَةَ فَهِيَ حُرَّةٌ وَقَدِ اعْتَزَلْتُ جَارِيَتِي وَهَمَمْتُ أَنْ أُعْتِقَهَا وَأَتَزَوَّجَهَا لِهَوَايَ فِيهَا فَقَالَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ فِيمَا أَحْلَفَتْكَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا يَجُوزُ عِتْقٌ وَلا صَدَقَةٌ إِلا مَا أُرِيدَ بِهِ وَجْهُ اللهِ وَثَوَابُهُ.
18. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn Mahbub from Sa‘d ibn abu Khalaf who has narrated the following: “I once said to abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), that I had bought a slave-girl secretly because of my wife and when she found out she went out of my home and refused to come back. I met her in the house of her people and said that what she has heard is false and the person who has told her is her enemy who wants to remove her from home. She said, ‘No, by Allah there will never be anything good between me and you until you swear to free all slave-girls that belong to you and give all of your assets in charity if you have bought something. You must free a slave-girl that still belongs to you.’ I took an oath as she asked and she made me repeat the oath and say, ‘Every slave-girl that belongs to me at this hour is free,’ and I said just as she had asked. I have separated my slave-girl. I thought to free and then marry her because I love her.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You do not owe anything because of your oath and you must take notice that to free a slave or charity is not valid unless it is for the sake of Allah and for the reward from Him.’”
